Breeder Of The Infernal Highness

The Sacrifice

Alyssa

Fear gripped me — the thought that Elaria might end up dying like my parents and Mr. Joel terrified me. My chest tightened, and my palms grew clammy as I kept signaling to her with my eyes, silently begging her to leave before it was too late.

“Ru—” my words were cut short when Elaria suddenly raised her phone and snapped a picture of the man standing before me, her hands trembling only slightly, her defiance burning through the fear that had frozen me.

Elaria, eighteen like me, had chestnut-brown hair that fell in soft curls around her face, brushing her shoulders whenever she tilted her head. Her hazel eyes — deep and flecked with gold — always seemed to hold secrets she’d never quite reveal. Her heart-shaped face, soft pink lips, and the tiny beauty mark just below her right eye gave her an effortlessly charming look, even in a moment like this.

Her body was slender yet graceful, and she moved with that quiet confidence that always made people turn when she entered a room. We’d been friends since childhood — inseparable, reckless, and curious. Our parents were close, too, before I lost mine. She’d been my anchor through every storm since then, and now, watching her stand there, fearlessly facing this monster, I wanted nothing more than to pull her out of the line of danger.

“Who are you people?” she asked boldly, her voice steady even as mine threatened to break.

The man turned away from me, his gaze settling on Mr. Joel: “I don’t have time for games. Let’s end this quickly,” he said, his voice like ice cutting through the air.

“What did he do wrong?” I asked again, stepping forward before I could stop myself. The man’s crimson eyes darkened, and the way he glared at me made my knees weak. Every instinct screamed for me to stay quiet, but I forced myself to hold his gaze. “I just want to know what he did to deserve death,” I pleaded softly, hoping to reach whatever shred of mercy he might have.

He sighed, frustration flashing across his face. “Tell them why I’m here for you,” he ordered coldly, not even sparing me a glance.

Mr. Joel lifted his head weakly, his face pale and drenched in sweat. His voice trembled as he spoke. “When I started this business, no one came to buy anything. Every day, my food went to waste. Then one day, he came into my bar — my first customer in almost a month. I was desperate. He offered to help me — said he’d give me capital and bring me customers for ten years, in exchange for my soul. I… I agreed. And now it’s been ten years—”

“Your time is up,” the man interrupted sharply. His tone was final, like a sentence that couldn’t be undone. Then he turned to me. “You should leave now.”

Shock rippled through me. Mr. Joel had sold his soul just to keep his business alive? It sounded impossible — insane. Yet the terror in his eyes told me it was real. I couldn’t just stand there and let him die.

“You can’t just take his life like that!” Elaria snapped, her voice slicing through the thick silence.

“All because he owes you some stupid money? That doesn’t give you the right to kill him!” she shouted again, her fists clenched tightly at her sides.

“It’s not about money,” the man replied, irritation dripping from his voice. “It’s a deal — a promise bound by blood. Don’t meddle in what you don’t understand.”

“You two should run, now!” said Mr. Joel shouted desperately, his fear-stricken eyes darting between us and the man. That look — the raw terror in them — made my heart skip. These weren’t normal people. The crimson glow in the man’s eyes, the unnatural aura that surrounded him — it wasn’t human.

“Hey, crimson-eyed freak!” Elaria yelled suddenly, her voice echoing through the dimly lit bar. “You trying to look scary with that ridiculous costume? You look hideous! Stop walking around acting like some discount horror movie villain!”

“Hideous? Me?” The man’s voice faltered for the first time. His companion blinked, equally shocked.

“Do you even know who I am?” he snapped after a pause, his pride wounded. “I’m the second in command to the Infernal Highness, Vesperion Vaelcrest. Every woman falls for me—”

“Did you hit your head or something, old man?” Elaria cut him off. “I knew you weren’t all right upstairs! You really think you brought customers here? What are you, God?”

That was Elaria — my loud, fearless best friend. She never backed down from a fight, not even with death staring her in the face.

“Leave him alone, you kidnappers!” she shouted again.

The man froze, eyes wide in disbelief. Even Mr. Joel and his companion seemed to struggle not to laugh. I couldn’t help it — a small laugh escaped me, breaking the unbearable tension for just a moment.

“I’ll show you something then,” the man said darkly, signaling toward the window. The blinds snapped shut, drowning the room in shadow. He turned toward Mr. Joel, pulling out a knife that shimmered unnaturally under the faint light. As he lifted it, the blade twisted — alive, slithering like a serpent.

Elaria gasped, her mouth falling open as she stumbled backward. The terror on her face only seemed to amuse him. His lips curved into a smile of pure satisfaction as he raised the blade high.

“Stop!” I screamed, my voice cracking. “Please don’t do it! We take everything back!”

“It’s not about taking things back,” he said, his grin widening. “His time has simply run out.” He paused then, eyes narrowing as if struck by a new idea. “Or perhaps… a trade?”

He took a slow step toward me, his voice low, tempting, like poison wrapped in honey. “You have an ailing brother, don’t you? No money for his transplant. What if I take care of that — his heart, his hospital bills, his future — in exchange for you instead?”

The words hit me like a knife to the chest. For a moment, the world fell silent. All I could see was Damian’s fragile body lying in that hospital bed, the sound of machines beeping beside him. My throat tightened.

Damian is the only family I have left. Watching him struggle with both heart failure and asthma made it impossible to hesitate — I didn’t think twice before accepting the offer. At least my brother would be safe.

“Yes,” I whispered. “I’ll do it.”

“Alyssa!” Elaria and Mr. Joel cried out in unison, their voices breaking with disbelief and grief.

“Mr. Joel,” I said softly, forcing a shaky smile. “Promise me something.”

He looked up, eyes glistening with tears, and nodded weakly.

“Take care of Damian for me.”

He didn’t answer — just lowered his head, shoulders trembling as silent tears fell.

“Good,” the man said with a satisfied smirk. “Then it’s settled.”

He raised his hand and drew a symbol in the air. A swirling black portal bloomed before us — vast, endless, devouring the surrounding light. A faint whisper of wind brushed past my skin, cold and hollow, as if the void itself breathed.

He gestured for me to follow. My body moved before my mind caught up, my feet heavy yet unresisting. His companion followed behind, the air thick with energy that made the room hum faintly.

Just as we were about to step through, the man paused as if remembering something. Slowly, he turned back toward Elaria, those crimson eyes glowing brighter, a wicked grin spreading across his face.

“Bring her too.”